Interview with ZULKIFLE MAHMOD, Singapore
{ October 10, 2009 @ 5:24 pm }
YS: So you would identify as a sound artist?
ZM: No, as an artist. Currently exploring sound works.
YS: How was the workshop you just did?
ZM: I must say it was quite an eye-opener for me also. The response was very good. I used a lot of cheap materials to make sound because they have this idea that it must be expensive to create soundpieces. So when they realise you can use something within your means it's very exciting for them.
I just used a normal cable wire, but it's not plugged into any instruments. I just used the static of the finger, and I have a contact mike which I plugged into a motorbike the second session. It's amazing ah, the sound.
They actually request for another workshop. So what they want is for me to sit in during the dance workshop and then they will pick up another session from there, and for another session they will work out something else.
YS: What about your thoughts on Cambodia in general?
ZM: I'm still not sure. I thought I know but after that i was like a… it's not there yet for me. But so far it's been good, with a lot of possibilities. People are nice.
YS: Why did you agree to come on FCP?
ZM: 'Cos I've never worked for FCP before. I thought it was a good opportunity to perform. I'm always all for, you know, when those people or students who hunger for knowledge, you always like to share with them what you know.
YS: Could you tell us about one artwork you're really proud of?
ZM: That I'm proud of? My recent solo show "ARENA". It's a new work that I don't use any speakers at all. It's just based on physical scale objects. It looks like a new chapter of my practice, a new process.
It's at the Substation gallery in October. I used like, motors, DC motors, solenoids. It's actually a follow-up from [theatre performance] RPM as I developed a set of instruments for the performances, but I develop from me triggering all these devices, but for ARENA I built analog devices to a build a sound composition itself.
(Note: this interview actually took place in Jan 2010, and has been back-dated for the sake of tidiness on the blog)
Ng Yi-Sheng